German

German is one of the most important languages in Europe and the world, spoken by over 100 million people and at the centre of a cultural and intellectual tradition that has shaped philosophy, literature, music, science and politics across centuries. Studying German at degree level is not simply about achieving fluency, though that is a core goal; it is about engaging deeply with a civilisation that produced Goethe, Kafka, Brecht, Weimar modernism, postwar reconstruction and contemporary European political life.

At University College London, this four-year programme builds your command of the German language to a high level while guiding you through the literature, history, culture and thought of the German-speaking world, encompassing Germany, Austria and Switzerland. You will read canonical and contemporary literary texts, study the history of the region from early modernity to the present, and engage with film, visual culture, political writing and philosophy. UCL's location in London gives you access to a vibrant German-speaking community and regular cultural events.

You will develop your writing, translation and oral skills throughout the programme, working toward a sophisticated and accurate command of the language. The typical entry tariff is 168 UCAS points.

Graduates with a degree in German from UCL move into careers in international business, diplomacy, law, publishing, journalism, translation and interpreting, cultural organisations and academia. German is particularly valuable in financial services, the automotive and engineering industries, and European Union and government contexts. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in German studies, translation, European politics or related fields.

The linguistic precision, cultural knowledge and analytical rigour that German study at this level develops are transferable across a wide range of professional settings.